"There's so much to be done, and time's running out. I only have seven
months left to purchase the land and buy the cattle, or I must admit
defeat and go back home. If I hadn't wasted so much time here, I could
be in Denver by now."
"I'm glad you came to Rockford Falls. If you hadn't, I wouldn't have
met you, and I believe we've become good friends." Grace grabbed hold
of Jessica's hand. "Oh, we have become good friends."
"And now Caleb and I will be going with you to Colorado. Some good did
come out of this, didn't it? " "Will you two girls stop acting like
ninnies. Jessica, get on out to the porch." Tilly's impatience
discouraged further dallying. Straightening her shoulders, Jessica
hurried to the front door. She felt as though she were going to her
own trial, which was ridiculous, of course. She only had to convince
the marshals she hadn't witnessed anything.
Her hand shook when she reached for the doorknob.
"Good evening, Marshals. I'm sorry I've kept you waiting." She stood
poised just inside the door and looked serene, yet her hand gripped the
handle tightly, and she appeared ready to bolt. Experience had taught
Daniel Ryan that lawmen made people jittery. He quickly stepped
forward and tried to put her at ease.
"This should only take a couple of minutes, " he explained.
She glanced from one marshal to the other. Neither one of them was
smiling. Marshal Ryan looked earnest, but Marshal Clayborne looked
bored leaning against the railing. Lord, Tilly had been right. Both
men oozed masculinity.
"It's routine, " Cole remarked.
She nodded. "Yes, I understand." He smiled. "It would probably be
easier if you came out on the porch." She took a quick breath and told
herself to stop trembling as she walked over to one of the wicker
chairs and sat down. She folded her hands in her lap and pressed her
knees and ankles together so they wouldn't shake. Then she waited for
one or both of the marshals to begin.
"I guess we should introduce ourselves, " Ryan began. He dragged a
chair across the porch to face her.
"That isn't necessary. I know who you are. You're Marshal Daniel
Ryan, and he's Marshal Cole Clayborne. We met at the jail, remember?
" Ryan straddled his chair, and Cole stood a few feet behind.
She stared up at him. "You don't look like a lawman, " she blurted
out.
Her eyes turned back to Ryan. "And neither do you."
"What do we look like? " Cole asked.
"Outlaws."
"We look like outlaws? " Cole asked, laughing.
Their smiles helped, and she began to relax. She wanted Cole to sit
down. The man towered over her, and a day's growth of whiskers made
him seem menacing. Daniel looked just as ragged. She had to remind
herself that both of them were marshals and it was, therefore, their
duty to protect innocent citizens. She just needed to let them know
she belonged in that group.